River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1887-03-10
CORPORAL JOHN.

gallant officer in the foreign legion,
and had been transferred at his own
request to Bazaine's command in
| Mexico. But in his new field of service
he had won few laurels. Macmillan
ill-starred reign was nearing its end,
and Capt Duval found himself fighting
against overwhelming odds.
What CALLED the chivalric French
man more than anything else was the
fact that his military education was
worth little to him in this semi-barba-
rous land. where the people resorted to
bushwhacking warfare. On his scout
ing expedition into Sonora he had lost
half of his men without once seeing the
enemy. On the march, and around
the campfire at night, the soldiers
were picked off one by one. by unseen
sharpshooters who seemed to defy dis
covery and pursuit.
And now another man had been
killed. What was to be done?
"Send Corporal John to me-" said
the Captain, coming to the door OF
his tent.
In few moments Corporal John
appeared. He was a stalwart young
fellow, with an honest American face.
His soldierly bearing was that of a
veteran. Although mere youth, he
had been trained in wars toughest
school. At the downfall of the Con-
federacy he had made his way across
the Rio Grande, still wearing his faded
gray Jacket. and had joined Max
imilian army.
Corporal John wore his French uni
form gracefully, but the lingo of his
comrades was too much for him, ard
this made him a little uneasy in the
presence of his captain.
MY American friend" said Duval,
'.you have fought bushwackers?"
''Yes Captain"
''And sharpshooters?
.Yes, Captain
And brigandsP"
Yes, Captain"
And all sorts of devils. doubt not.
Well, then, Corporal John. what did
YOU with them when you caught
them?''
Click
This significant sound. made by a
peculiar working of the Corporal 5
mouth, arrested the Frenchman. 5
attention.
Good he calculated. you shot
them on the spot?"
1--WE led them out into the bushes, :"
said corporal, land lost them. And
they were never found again. Click!'
Very well. said Duval with salts
fled look. son the principle of setting
thief to catch thief, propose to turn
these assasins over to you. On the
march tomorrow take few picked men
and watch every suspicious place. If
you find any human being in ambush
with arms in his hands, shoot HIM. If
the case calls ADMINISTRATION it will be
looked into later. Our first dutyis self
preservation.
1T shall be DONE" replied Corporal
John, as he retired.
1t was nearly shutdown the next day
when Corporal John and two of his men
plunged into dense and tangled thick
ct little off their line of march. The
corporal was sure that he had seen
something run to cover and he found
that he was not mistaken.
But this prisoner, with his arm
around the neck of his little mustang,
was no ordinary bushwhacker. When
the two soldiers seized him Corporal
John saw before him a boy of about IS,
a handsome. spirited-lOoking youngster
in citizens dress and armed with a light
rifle. Trembling and flushing by turns,
the prisoner flashed his black eyes de-
family. and cried out:
.Unhand me. seniors! / will not sub
NIT to this outrage"
He spoke in Spanish. and the cor
poral understood this language much
better than he did French.
"Who are you, and what are you
doing here?' he asked sternly.
The little Mexican drew himself up
haughtily.
1T is no crime to hunt" he replied
Il am not a soldier. See, / wear no
uniform. Why am l treated in this
way? Restore my rifle and my mus
tang and let me proceed on my way"
1t was a wonderfully sweet voice and
it had an imperious ring in it. Corporal
John wavered moment, but one of
the men spoke up:
"A cursed Brlgand and caught with
arms in his hands in ambush. Re
member the Captains order"
II will take HIM down to the river
and finish him myself" said the corpo-
raj. grimly. Il can't take you from
the road at present. Keep your eyes
OPEN"
There was protest from the others.
but the corporal silenced them.
II won't have any useless noise" he
explained. I'm take him to the river.
cut his throat and throw him in. That
will be the safest plan"
Thing the hands of the prisoner. he
led him through the thick underground
down to the muddy stream a hundred
yards from the road.
/ ..Senor.H
Corporal John looked down relent-
lessly into the youthful face.
well" he answered gruffiy.
"Senor, this is a brave deed for a
soldier, to murder an unarmed prison
err"
..You and your friends have been
numbering our men," replied the cor
poral. land we must get even and SET
ana example"
"Senor. let me speak. Less than a
month ago band of soldiers burned
our hacienda. They stabbed my ia
ilu, a 81 niI with their